• Hoyos GomezTatianaTAssistant Professor- Department of Surgery, Division of Trauma, Critical Care and Acute Care Surgery, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR. Electronic address: hoyosgom@ohsu.edu., S James El Haddi, Sherri L Grimstead-Arnold, and Martin A Schreiber.
• Assistant Professor- Department of Surgery, Division of Trauma, Critical Care and Acute Care Surgery, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR. Electronic address: hoyosgom@ohsu.edu.
• Injury. 2023 Jan 1; 54 (1): 293129-31.

IntroductionWith the large-scale use of whole blood in massive transfusion using rapid infusers/fluid warmers such as the Belmont, questions remain as to whether coagulation potency, platelet number and function are preserved.  We aimed to study functional coagulation capacity and cell counts in whole blood before and after infusion through the Belmont rapid infuser utilizing TEG analysis and complete blood counts.MethodsWe evaluated 10 whole blood units before and after infusion through a Belmont Fluid Management System at a set rate of 200 mL/min and a temperature of 37.4 °C.  Cell counts and thromboelastography function of the specimens were measured. Parameters were compared utilizing paired Student's t-tests and paired Wilcoxon Rank Sign tests.ResultsPlatelet count, R time, and Maximum amplitude showed significant decreases (defined as p<0.05) after being infused through the Belmont. Hemoglobin, hematocrit, MCV, and alpha angle were not statistically different before and after infusion.ConclusionInfusion of cold stored whole blood in a Belmont infuser, appeared to decrease platelet counts and function as well as activate clotting factors as demonstrated by a shorter R time while not affecting red cell counts or fibrin cross-linking as measured by TEG parameters and cell counts. This suggests that while it is possible to transfuse whole blood through a rapid infuser, platelet quantity and function may be negatively impacted.Copyright © 2022. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

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